Chamarajanagar: Chief Minister Siddharamaiah yesterday lashed out at the BJP and RSS, and equated them with “extremists” (ugragaami) for fomenting tension and disharmony in society.

Speaking to reporters on his arrival at Nagavalli in Chamarajanagar Taluk for inaugurating a slew of developmental projects and initiatives yesterday morning, Siddharamaiah said that the BJP-RSS-VHP and Bajarang Dal were akin to extremists “in a way”. “But the Government will not tolerate any activity of any organisation that promotes tension in society,” he added.

He said the Government would initiate action against anyone who foments communal disharmony, be it the RSS or the PFI. When questioned whether he would recommend banning any organisation, he was ambivalent, saying, “Let us see once we  get proof.”

He said, “Even I am a Hindu, but have not used it for political gains. They have started Hindutva, but my Hinduism is one with a humane face and theirs is one devoid of it. That is the difference between us and the BJP,” he added. He lashed out at the BJP and questioned their contribution to the socio-economic development of the Dalits and the other socially backward sections of society.

Replying to a question on the death threat to Minister Tanveer Sait, the CM said that he had no information about it. However, he will speak to Sait and ask the Police to up the Minister’s security and also to thoroughly investigate the death threat.

When asked about BJP leader A.R. Krishnamurthy’s (ARK) chances of joining the Congress, he said that he had not talked to ARK in this regard. The CM also refuted reports on his meeting with ARK’s mother to discuss ARK’s entry to the Congress party.

Replying to a query on his meeting with prominent Opposition Leaders during the Congress party’s ‘Sadhana Samavesha’, Siddharamaiah said that he only made a courtesy visit to former Minister and JD(S) leader M.C. Nanaiah’s  residence at Madikeri on Jan.9, as Nanaiah was ailing for some time.

He also said that he and Nanaiah maintained a close relationship since the Janata Parivar days and that there was nothing special about the meeting. Lashing out at the BJP for making baseless allegations against him, he called BJP leaders as liars.

Alleging that several BJP leaders were themselves facing charges of corruption, Siddharamaiah said that the BJP leaders have no moral right to point fingers at him on corruption and misuse of power.

Earlier, the Chief Minister who arrived at Nagavalli from Madikeri in a helicopter was received by Chamarajanagar District in-Charge Minister Dr. Geetha Mahadevaprasad, MP R. Dhruvanarayan, MLA Puttarangashetty, ZP President M. Ramachandra, DC B. Ramu, ADC Gayatri, AC Shazia Tarannum, SP D.K. Meena and a host of other officials.

The Chief Minister after launching a slew of projects and developmental works worth Rs.43.6 crore in Chamarajanagar Taluk, left for Kollegal, following which he will visit Hanur and stay overnight at M.M. Hills.